Keeping Your Hearing Aids Dry
Hearing aids have never been smaller or more technically advanced. But although hearing aids are designed to be robust, like all electronic devices, they need to be protected from moisture.
If you’re an avid swimmer or use your hearing aids for sweaty activities such as hiking or jogging, your hearing devices might be exposed to moisture every day.
What can you do to protect them from damage? Here’s everything you need to know about hearing aids and moisture.
How Humidity Affects Your Hearing Aids
Humidity affects hearing aids in a few ways. First, much like condensation on a can of soda, condensation occurs when warm, damp air reaches the cooler metal components of your hearing aids.
Humidity also makes the evaporation of this liquid more difficult, and most of that excess ends up on or inside your devices. Particularly during the hotter summer months, we tend to sweat more, and this moisture collects on the unit. People with an active lifestyle often run a high risk of damage to their hearing aids due to this excess moisture.
Water-Resistant, Not Waterproof
Your hearing aids have a water-resistant nanotechnology coating that protects your devices from water but is not fully waterproof. That’s why any hearing aid’s sensitive parts are easily affected by humidity and need to be carefully cared for to prevent damage.
How To Dry A Wet Hearing Aid
Don’t panic if you get your hearing aids wet! Follow these steps carefully to make sure your devices emerge unscathed.
- The first step is to shut them off and replace the batteries. Keeping a battery inside of damp hearing aid will harm the system even more. It is better to be on the safe side and throw out the batteries.
- Place your hearing aids in a dry newspaper and dry for at least 24 hours inside your house.
- Putting the hearing aids close to a table lamp will also speed up the drying process, but do not position them close to a light bulb or other heat source because this will damage the unit.
- Take a cup of uncooked rice or silica gel and place it in a lidded container or a plastic baggie. Put your hearing aid in the rice or silica gel, seal the baggie/container, and leave it overnight. Silica gel and rice will act as a dehumidifier and soak up the moisture in your hearing aid.
- If you have one, dry your hearing aids with a dehumidifier.
Prevention Techniques
No matter how hard you try, it’s likely that your hearing aids get a little bit damp sometimes. When you’re exposed to unwanted humid environments when wearing your hearing aids, there are some strategies you can use to reduce the chances of humidity damaging your devices.
Invest in a dry box. Many people invest overnight in drying boxes designed to evaporate humidity in hearing aids. Such systems will also charge your hearing aids when they are drying, too. Such machines are locked so that no moisture can get in. This is especially useful for those who live in humid areas.
Clean your listening aids every day. Create a regular cleaning routine if you want to extend your hearing aids and enjoy consistent hearing day-in and day out. Cleaning your devices until they are dry will keep your devices in tip-top condition, and prevent damage or expensive repairs. Set aside 5 minutes each evening to clean your appliances before bed.
Start by wiping a smooth, dry cloth from the hearing aids to remove any dirt, dust, earwax, or moisture. Check for any ear wax accumulation around the hearing aids’ holes and use a small pick to extract any ear wax. Remove the earmolds from the hearing aids once a week, and wash them in warm water. Be sure they are thoroughly dry until you place them on the hearing aids again.
Are you looking for the right tools to keep your hearing aids dry? Do you need more tips on hearing aid maintenance? Contact us to find out how to take care of your hearing aids or to bring them in for maintenance to prolong their lifetime.
